Air Nozzle Arranged In The Head Rest Of A Vehicle Seat

ABSTRACT

A motor vehicle seat has a headrest which is supported by a backrest. At a front side of the headrest, which faces toward the seat occupant, the air nozzle opens out of an air supply device for supplying the head, shoulder, and neck region of the seat occupant with an air flow. The air nozzle is provided with guide elements for directing the emerging airflow. Each component of the air nozzle is arranged so as to be recessed with respect to the front side of the headrest by a comfort dimension.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a motor vehicle seat having an air nozzle integrated into its headrest.

German document DE 101 63 051 B4 discloses a vehicle seat of this type having a backrest that supports a headrest into which is integrated an air supply device for supplying the head, shoulder and neck region of the seat occupant with a preferably warm airflow. Here, the air supply device comprises an air nozzle which opens out at the front of the headrest that faces toward the seat occupant. The warm airflow emerges via the air nozzle from the air supply device and flows in the direction of the seat occupant. Here, the air nozzle comprises horizontally-running guide elements, that is to say guide elements which run in the vehicle transverse direction, at the front side of the headrest, by means of which guide elements the airflow emerging from the air supply device can be individually set.

It is an object of the present invention to design the air nozzle of the air supply device, and integrate it within the headrest of the vehicle seat, in such a way as to provide an improved level of comfort for the seat occupant.

This object is achieved according to the invention by way of a motor vehicle seat having the features claimed. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are further claimed.

In the motor vehicle seat according to the invention, the air nozzle is arranged so as to be recessed with respect to the front side of the headrest by a so-called comfort dimension. The air nozzle accordingly does not open out approximately flat in a plane formed by the front side of the headrest, but is rather arranged so as to be set back by this comfort dimension. In other words, the air nozzle is arranged within a depression of the headrest in order to thereby improve the seating comfort for the seat occupant. If, for example, the seat occupant leans back with his head against the preferably upholstered front side of the headrest, then his positive impression of comfort is not adversely affected by the air nozzle arranged on the front side of the headrest. Here, the air nozzle is arranged such that the comfort spacing, which is preferably in the range from 5 mm to 30 mm, remains between the front side of the headrest and the furthest-forward-projecting component of the air nozzle.

As one component of the air nozzle, an encircling nozzle border is preferably arranged so as to be recessed with respect to the front side of the headrest. This nozzle border delimits the air outlet opening of the air nozzle at the peripheral side and forms the transition region to the adjoining upholstery of the front side of the headrest.

As further components of the air nozzle, horizontally and/or vertically arranged air guide elements, which are in particular surrounded by the encircling nozzle border, are preferably also arranged so as to be recessed with respect to the front side of the headrest. This ensures that no component which could adversely affect the seating comfort of the seat occupant is arranged even in the central region of the air nozzle. Here, the comfort dimension between the front side of the headrest and the foremost point of the air guide elements is maintained regardless of the selected setting of the air guide elements.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention can be gathered from the following description of a preferred exemplary embodiment and on the basis of the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 a and 1 b show a schematic perspective front view and a schematic side view of the motor vehicle seat with the integrated air supply device, with an air nozzle that opens out in the region of the front side of the headrest;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic detail view of the headrest of the motor vehicle seat of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 shows a schematic section illustration through the headrest along the line III-III in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 a and 1 b illustrate a schematic perspective front view and a schematic side view of the backrest 10 of a motor vehicle seat. In the backrest 10 shown in FIG. 1 a, it is possible to see substantially a rear-side lining part 12, a headrest 14, and a back cushion 15. The motor vehicle seat is embodied here as an integral seat, with the headrest 14 being arranged in front of the backrest 10 so as to overlap the latter. Here, the headrest 14 can be adjusted in height relative to the backrest 10 by guide means (not shown). Arranged within the backrest 10 is an air supply device 16 which comprises, as its main components, a schematically indicated fan 18 at the lower end of the air supply device 16, and an air duct 20 arranged above the fan 18. Provided within the air duct 20, and at a distance above and at the pressure side of the fan 18, is a heating element 22 (indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 1 a), by means of which the airflow generated by the fan 18 can be heated. At the upper end, the vertically-running duct 20 is angled forward in an L-shape, and ends at an air nozzle 24, which will be explained in more detail below, at the front side 26 of the headrest 14. Via the air nozzle 24, the preferably warm airflow generated by the air supply device 16 emerges in the direction of the head, shoulder and neck region of the seat occupant. It is hereby possible, for example when traveling in an open-top motor vehicle, to compensate the naturally occurring backflow or turbulence, which is disturbing to the seat occupant, of the air surrounding said vehicle. In order to be able—depending on the size and seating position of the seat occupant—to direct the warm airflow emerging from the air nozzle 24, the air nozzle 24 comprises guide elements 32 which will be explained in more detail below.

Furthermore, in FIG. 1 b, in a side view, the profile of the back cushion 15 in the central symmetrical region 30 of the backrest 10 is indicated by dashed lines. It can also be seen here that the air supply device 16 or its air duct 20 and its fan 18 are arranged entirely within the backrest 10, and only the air nozzle 24 can be seen from the outside.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a detail of the headrest 14 of the backrest 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b. At the front side 26, which faces toward the seat occupant, the air nozzle 24 of the air supply device 16 opens out in a lower region of the headrest 14. Here, the front side 26 of the headrest 14 is provided with upholstery and is lined with an upholstered cover 28.

When viewed together with FIG. 3, which shows a schematic section view through the headrest 14 along the line III-III in FIG. 2, it is possible to see the recessed arrangement of the air nozzle 24 with respect to the front side 26 of the headrest 14. Here, the air nozzle 24 is arranged so as to be set back from the front side 26 of the headrest 14 by a so-called comfort dimension K which is preferably between 5 mm and 30 mm. Here, the air duct 20 ends in the region of an encircling nozzle border 34 which is embodied here as an oval opening which is elongate in the vehicle transverse direction. Some other geometric design of the encircling nozzle border 34 would of course also be conceivable. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the encircling nozzle border 34 is arranged with its end side 36, which faces toward the seat occupant, so as to be recessed with respect to the front side 26 of the headrest by the comfort dimension K. A plurality of vertically-running guide elements 32 are mounted within the nozzle border 34 or the air duct 20 so as to be pivotable about a respective pivot axis SV. By means of these guide elements 32, the airflow emerging from the air supply device 16 via the air nozzle 24 can be individually directed. In the present exemplary embodiment, five vertical guide elements 32 are provided, which guide elements are pivotably coupled to one another for example by means of a connecting bar 40 or similar device. FIG. 3 illustrates the representatively illustrated guide element 32 in a pivoting position perpendicular to the plane E spanned by the encircling nozzle border 34, that is to say in a position in which the airflow emerging from the air supply device 16 flows straight through the guide elements 32 without deflection. In the illustrated pivoting position, perpendicular to the plane E, of the guide element 32, the foremost end of the latter is of course at the shortest distance from the front side 26 of the headrest 14. The spacing between the front end 40 and the front side 26 of the headrest 14 would accordingly be greater in an inclined pivoting position of the guide element 32. But even in the case of the shortest possible spacing between the front end 40 of the guide element 32, the latter is dimensioned and arranged in such a way that it—as part of the air nozzle 24—is arranged so as to be recessed with respect to the front side 26 of the headrest 14 at least by the comfort dimension K. In the present exemplary embodiment, the front end 40 of each guide element 32 additionally comes to rest in any case, regardless of its pivoting position, at the level of or else behind the plane E spanned by the encircling nozzle border 34 of the air nozzle 24. In other words, every component of the air nozzle 24—that is to say both the encircling nozzle border 34 and also each of the guide elements 32—is arranged so as to be set back from the front side 26 of the headrest 14 by the comfort dimension K.

In the opening-out region at the front side of the nozzle border 34, the air outflow opening widens in cross section. The corresponding configuration of the upholstery of the front side 26 of the headrest 14 or of the upholstered cover 28 is made clear by corresponding lines 42.

In a further embodiment of the invention, in addition to the guide elements 32 running in the vehicle vertical direction or vertically-running guide elements 32, at least one further guide element 44 is provided which extends at least approximately horizontally or in the vehicle transverse direction. Here, the horizontal guide element 44 is mounted within the encircling nozzle border 34 so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis SH. The airflow emerging from the air supply device can be individually adjusted in height by means of said at least one guide element 44. The guide element 44 is also correspondingly designed and mounted within the nozzle border 34 such that its front end 46 comes to rest in each case so as to be set back from the front side 26 of the headrest 14 at least by the comfort dimension K regardless of the set pivoting position. The front end 46 of the horizontal guide element 44 preferably comes to rest—as illustrated in FIG. 3—at the level of or behind the plane E spanned by the encircling nozzle border 34. 

1-5. (canceled)
 6. A motor vehicle seat comprising: a backrest, a headrest that is supported by the backrest and having a front side that faces toward a seat occupant, and an air nozzle of an air supply device opening out of the front side for supplying a head, shoulder, and neck region of the seat occupant with an airflow, wherein the air nozzle includes guide elements for directing an emerging airflow, and wherein the air nozzle is arranged so as to be recessed with respect to the front side of the headrest by a comfort dimension.
 7. The motor vehicle seat as claimed in claim 6, wherein the air nozzle comprises an encircling nozzle border arranged so as to be recessed with respect to the front side of the headrest by the comfort dimension.
 8. The motor vehicle seat as claimed in claim 7, wherein the guide elements are for individual setting and are arranged on the air nozzle so as to be adjustable, and wherein, in every setting, the guide elements are arranged so as to be recessed with respect to the front side of the headrest.
 9. The motor vehicle seat as claimed in claim 8, wherein the guide elements end at a level of or behind a plane that is spanned by the encircling nozzle border of the air nozzle.
 10. The motor vehicle seat as claimed in claim 6, wherein the air supply device is integrated into at least one of the headrest and the backrest of the motor vehicle seat.
 11. The motor vehicle seat as claimed in claim 7, wherein the guide elements end at a level of or behind a plane that is spanned by the encircling nozzle border of the air nozzle. 